“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.” — Joel 2:25

Joseph began life as a favored child. “Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him” (Genesis 37:3). But this special affection stirred jealousy among his brothers, and one day their resentment turned into betrayal. Though they first plotted to kill him, they eventually sold him into slavery. “Judah said to his brothers, ‘What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.’ His brothers agreed” (Genesis 37:26–27).

Likewise, Moses also began life as a favored prince. Though Pharaoh had ordered the death of Hebrew baby boys, Moses was rescued from the Nile and adopted into Pharaoh’s household. “When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, ‘I drew him out of the water’” (Exodus 2:10). Yet when Moses tried to defend his oppressed people, he was forced to flee into the wilderness. “When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian” (Exodus 2:15).

Imagine what must have gone through the minds of Joseph and Moses as they wandered through seasons of loss and hardship after once living lives of privilege and promise. Yet God was not finished with them. In a sudden turn of events, Joseph was lifted from prison to become ruler over Egypt, the greatest nation of that time. “So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt" (Genesis 41:41). And while Moses was tending sheep in the wilderness, God appeared to him and commissioned him to return to Egypt to deliver the Israelites (Exodus 3:1–2).

Perhaps you too have experienced a painful fall from a place of honor to a place of struggle. Maybe life once seemed full of promise, but now you feel forgotten, rejected, or brought low. Do not lose hope. Our God is still a Restorer. Just as Joseph was restored, Moses was restored, and above all Christ was raised from the grave, God is able to restore you too. “He was buried, and on the third day He rose from the dead, just as the Scriptures had foretold” (1 Corinthians 15:4).

Prayer Today:
Lord Almighty Father in heaven, where I have experienced loss, disappointment, or a fall from grace, I look to You for restoration. Thank You because You never abandon Your children, but in Your perfect time You lift and restore them. Strengthen my faith to trust You through every wilderness season. This I pray in Jesus’ name!